A 23-year-old Australian has been detained since late April in Indonesia’s conservative province of Aceh, following an alleged drunken, violent, and naked incident.
Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, from Queensland, was arrested by local officials after allegedly attacking a local fisherman during the outburst. Since the arrest, officials have presented possible punishments for the crimes, which include jailtime, public floggings from a cane under Sharia Law practiced by the province, and even a goat slaughtering.
On Friday, May 5th, Risby-Jones, donned in handcuffs, an orange jumpsuit, and black balaclava, was escorted by police to conduct a press conference.
“What I would say to Australia right now is that I’m very, very sorry for my actions, and the embarrassment I’ve caused us Aussies overseas,” he said.
Risby-Jones was on a surf trip, staying at a resort on the island of Simeulue when the incident occurred. Reports say that he emerged from his room, naked, attacked a security guard, then other local residents, including a fisherman who suffered a foot injury requiring 50 stitches.
“According to people present at the scene, [he] went out of his room completely naked, yelling and causing a ruckus,” said Simeulue Police Chief AKBP Jatmiko, per CNN. [He is] subject to Article 351 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the law…which carries a maximum imprisonment of five years.”
However, Aceh has a special autonomous status; it is the only Indonesian province practicing Sharia law. According to CNN, Risby-Jones will be given a choice between Sharia law or provincial law. If guilty under Sharia law, he faces the possibility of 40 lashes and up to 2.5 years in jail. If guilty under provincial law, he faces up to five years of jailtime.
Additionally, the resort where Risby-Jones was staying at faces another traditional ritual to amend the situation. Per, Metro:
“Chief of the village Suhardi Fleno said the resort Risby-Jones was staying in has to slaughter a goat in accordance with traditional practice.”
What’s more, there were reports that locals, clearly enraged by the situation, attempted to set fire to the resort following the incident.
As for the alcohol in question, the police chief presented a bottle of Absolut vodka during the press conference. “One person, one bottle is allowed as a rule of customs,” said the chief. “But if entering Aceh, Aceh has specific laws.”
Risby-Jones admits he drank prior to the incident, but that he wasn’t drunk. However, the main cause for his misbehavior was sunstroke from surfing all day long.
“We were at the pool, and we had a duty-free bottle of vodka,” he said. “I only had one shot, just one shot.”
The family of the fisherman victim is requesting $61,000 in compensation for the alleged attack; nearly $5,000 has already been paid in treatment costs.
Reportedly, police can keep Risby-Jones in custody for 20 days while they investigate.
“I wish what I did never happened,” Risby-Jones said. “And I really, really wanna come home.”
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